Legend 90 League: Guptill's 160 Off 49 Guides Chhattisgarh Warriors to Victory

Synopsis

In a stunning display, Martin Guptill scored an unbeaten 160 runs off 49 balls, leading Chhattisgarh Warriors to a remarkable 89-run victory over Big Boys Unikari in the Legend 90 League. His performance set records at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, including the highest individual score and the first 200+ total in the tournament's history.

Key Takeaways

Martin Guptill scored an unbeaten 160 runs.
Chhattisgarh Warriors won by 89 runs.
Guptill's innings included 12 fours and 16 sixes.
First century in Legend 90 League history.
Warriors set the first 200+ total in the tournament.

Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Feb 10 (NationPress) Martin Guptill of New Zealand delivered an unforgettable performance in the Legend 90 League, scoring an incredible 160 runs off merely 49 balls, leading the Chhattisgarh Warriors to a staggering 89-run victory over Big Boys Unikari on Monday. The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium transformed into a grand stage as Guptill's explosive innings surpassed the total runs scored by the opposing team.

Recognized as a prominent figure in New Zealand's white-ball cricket legacy, Guptill ignited the crowd after the Warriors chose to bat first. Although the beginning was cautious, the seasoned opener quickly unleashed a wave of runs, reaching his fifty in just 21 balls.

The real excitement erupted in the 12th over when he unleashed a remarkable 29 runs off Ishan Malhotra, achieving his century in a mere 34 balls, thus becoming the inaugural player to hit a century in the Legend 90 League. His subsequent fifty came in just 13 balls, culminating in a breathtaking 160 not out, marking the highest individual score in the tournament's history.

Guptill's ferocious display included 12 fours and 16 sixes, maintaining an astounding strike rate of 326.53. He was well-supported by Rishi Dhawan, who contributed significantly with an unbeaten 76 runs off 42 balls.

The pair formed an unbroken partnership of 240 runs, the highest in the competition, propelling the Warriors to a record-breaking total of 240 for no loss in their 15 overs. This achievement marked the first occurrence of a 200+ total in the tournament's history.

In response, Big Boys Unikari faced a daunting challenge and ultimately faltered under the pressure.

Their innings started poorly with the early dismissal of Jatin Saxena by Manan Sharma. Captain Ishan Malhotra soon followed, getting out to Abhimanyu Mithun. Despite commendable efforts from Saurabh Tiwary (37) and Robin Bist (55 not out), the team struggled to gain momentum and ended up with 151/4, falling short by 89 runs.

This decisive victory marked the Chhattisgarh Warriors' third consecutive win, propelling them to the top of the leaderboard.